NCERT · Class 10 · English · Poetry: Dust of SnowHow does the poet's mood change in the poem 'Dust of Snow'? What causes this sudden change?

At the beginning of the poem 'Dust of Snow', the poet Robert Frost is in a very sorrowful, depressed, and despondent state of mind. He feels extremely regretful about how his day has been going and believes that the entire day has been completely wasted or ruined. However, as he walks under a hemlock tree, a crow sitting on a branch happens to shake down some fine particles of snow—referred to as the 'dust of snow'—onto the poet. This unexpected, gentle touch of cold snow acts as a sudden physical and mental shock that instantly breaks his chain of negative and gloomy thoughts. The simple act of nature refreshes his mind and brings an immediate change in his emotional state. His mood shifts dramatically from deep sorrow to cheerfulness, hope, and optimism. Consequently, he realizes that the rest of his day can still be saved and utilized fruitfully, preventing him from wasting it entirely in useless regret.